Deseret News | Split was a heavy burden for FLDS family

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Split was a heavy burden for FLDS family

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Just the facts | 5:59 p.m. June 4, 2008

For the curious, who have indicated they are wondering, the "Bishop's List" from the ranch is available online. Edson Jessop has six or seven wives. (His record is one of the last to appear.) It appears he has in excess of forty children. I am not condemning, or making judgments about what type of parents they are, I am just stating the facts.

Minnesota | 6:09 p.m. June 4, 2008

This article brought tears to my eyes...
Because I wonder what will happen to this little girl in 10 years. Will she have to be with some man 20 years older then herself? And what about the 3 boys? Kicked out on the side of a highway? AND I would like to ask the mother Zavenda Young, were are the rest of your children? You do have 10 kids right? From around 19 to 10 years of age. Were are your older girls? Have you sent them off with older men already? Were are the boys? Kicked out on the streets?

DC | 7:56 p.m. June 4, 2008

To realitycheck

You say all you want is "freedom" for the FLDS children, but surely you drew some lines for your own children about right and wrong. If one came home and said "Mommy I hate black people", or "Mommy, that crippled kid is ugly and I laughed at him at school today," I don't think you said "Well, that's your choice, dear -- doesn't jibe with my way of being, but I want you to be free". You told her what was right and wrong, as you saw the world. And if she said ï¿½Mommy, everybody laughs at the crippled kid ï¿½ itï¿½s what I need to do to fit inï¿½ you made sure she knew that was not acceptable. The FLDS are no different ï¿½ you just find some things in the world acceptable that they do not. And while you are certainly free to try persuading the FLDS that your viewpoint is preferable, you canï¿½t justify sending the state in to force that viewpoint on them in the name of ï¿½freeingï¿½ the children. Your children were no more ï¿½freeï¿½ than theirs, you just laid down a different set of rules

Comments continue below

mypc | 9:21 p.m. June 4, 2008

for reality check: for weeks you have been going on about how bad this children have it. You took your kids to see what choices to make and they took your advise. What I choose for my kids is my business. You must have gotten a day pass from patten the day you were slumming. You do not represent the average california person. Most of us have others interest first. And just like me you have relatives signing the constitution or related to Bush..so what..that is an accident of birth. You are a product of chance. Sorry for the fact that you cannot save the world but better luck next time.

John Lambert | 10:15 p.m. June 4, 2008

I second Boston 123s comments. Some say "It won't happen to you". However when the state legislature tries to re-write the election laws to prevent members of your church from running for office, it is clearly religious persecution. A year ago I would have thought I was referencing the Idaho Test Oath in the 19th Century. What I am actually referencing is an attempt to re-write the election law in the Texas legislature in the 21st century. True, it did not pass, but they guy who proposed this law that would disadvantage renters who move more often, or people whose jobs make them often move long distances more often than every two years is still in office. Evidently people do not really care about the voting rights act.

Great Idea | 11:31 p.m. June 4, 2008

Maybe we should fire all CPS workers and hire the FLDS to look out for our kids.

Take away the power from CPS and our kids have nobody to look after them.

There would be nobody to call and make annonomous reports of abuse because they didn't want to get involved. We would continue doing what we have always done, pretend that it's not a problem or its not any of our business.

I told a social worker that I had hit my kid (17,incrediably obnoxious, i still think he deserved it) I was turned in to CPS (she was doing what was required by law), they didn't bust down my door & haul me or my son off. I should have been incredibly angry at the social worker for turning me in, but it was the first time that someone besides myself was looking out for my kid.

Who should we hand over the power to to watch out for our children? The politicians. drug dealers, teachers?

Somebody has to be the bad guy and watch out for our kids, let them do their jobs.

Captions for pictures | 12:17 a.m. June 5, 2008

1. Now little Anne, daddy promises he wont marry you off to old uncle Fred until you are at least 18.

2. Mommy, please don't make me marry old uncle Fred. Just because you had to doesn't make it right.

3. Thats no fair that we can't marry 13 year old girls like uncle warren did.

4. When I stick my belly out like this, I can show her that if I can carry around a big gut like this, there is no reason she cant be barefoot & pregnant all the time.

5. Russel I told you not to tell these nice people what really goes on behind the big fence.

6. Anne we are going to make your wedding dress now whether you like it or not.

7. This here is our little red-headed stepchild. We'll probalby show him the gates when he's about 15 or 16.

8. And this little darling will make a good little sister wife. (after she turns 18;)

9. Ok everybody the show is over, we need to get them back to the ranch & reprogram them.

10. Everybody bow their heads now & pray that mommy gets a new sister wife.

Lucia | 5:43 a.m. June 5, 2008

They are really great at PR and let's face it, nothing can pull at heartstrings better than beautiful children but when you have more information to go on you see that a picture is not always what it seems. The artile speaks of and shows Edson and Zavenda's FOUR children. According to the Bishop's record in addition to these children they also have children 19, 17, 16, 14, 12, 11. Where are the minors from this list? As of the printing of the Bishop's Record a year ago, in addition to many, many other children over age 10, Edson also has 14 other children under the age of 10 to other "wives," including other preschoolers. Of course there is no way of knowing if more have been born to him since the printing of the list. How long have these little ones been separated from their father and their other siblings? A picture is not always what it seems.

realitycheck | 9:24 a.m. June 5, 2008

re - mypc 9:21pm

yes - you're right. I can't save the world. But if I can save one child...

and I didn't get a day pass when I went "slummin" as you put it. I rode my harley, the kid was on the back. And the residents simply nodded to me and let me pass. See, I've seen the world. I know the different societies and how they work. I am prepared to survive in a changing world. FLDS children are not. They are afraid. And living scared isn't living at all.

yes - what you choose for your kids is your business. And if you want to hide them from the world, that's your business. But in hiding them from the world, you are also denying them the world. And trust me - the world is HUGE. Denying your children access to it, and not teaching them to survive in it is simply wrong. It's bad parenting and it's a violation of their rights to a free life.

Teach your children whatever you want - they're your kids. I'm certainly not going to change your mind. Just remember you're not raising your children - you're condemning them.

Jay - re: Captions for Pictures | 9:31 a.m. June 5, 2008

These "captions" just go to show that some people can't see the truth when it's staring them in the face.

Such hateful nonsense these "captions"!

Jay - re: To Betty | 9:41 a.m. June 5, 2008

You are right on target with your view!

These people love and are devoted to their families - the fundamental social unit instituted by God.

There is absolutely nothing morally wrong with a family having more than one wife. If those who automatically reject polygyny would do some honest and unbiased research and listen to those who live this life, they would see that this is a life of love and devotion to family.

Jay - re: Just the facts | 9:46 a.m. June 5, 2008

Thanks for the info and for not passing judgement.

If this is true, then I say that the Lord has blessed him mightily and I rejoice for him and his family.

I know he will be happy when all of his family is together again.

Jay - re: jt | 9:59 a.m. June 5, 2008

Have you never read Acts 5:29?

Ginger | 1:59 p.m. June 6, 2008

Oh please, the FLDS have freedoms like you and I. They CHOOSE to live their lives the way they do, just like you and I! Not FLDS but I am a conservative Baptist and while I disagree with the multiple wives, I do agree with many of their other beliefs. The Government is out to get your children if you are not mainstream.

realitycheck | 3:18 p.m. June 6, 2008

re - Ginger

What planet are you writing from, Ginger? FLDS women and especially children have rights? Like a future of their own choosing?

Do you really raise your kids so they have no clue what's out in the world (other than saying everyone is evil)? If so, you're creating little mini-clones. If you don't, then you are NOTHING like the FLDS.

Anonymous | 7:37 a.m. June 8, 2008

I agree with RealityCheck. Let's round up all the Amish as well because they indoctrinate their children (lowly farmers no less) and only allow them to experience the world for a year. No trips around the world or PhDs in their ranks. DUH!!

Seems to me like it is pretty easy to get "kicked out" of the FLDS should someone decide to see the world.

Anonymous | 5:35 p.m. June 21, 2008

This note was found on the wall of Dachau when it was liberated in 1944. It was written by the Protestant Clergyman Martin Niemuhler(Niemoller)
"When they came to get the jews I didn't say anything because I wasn't one of them. When they took the crippled, the mentally unstable and the insane away I didn't say anything. When they took the Catholics away I didn't say anything because I wasn't one of them. Now I can't say anything because they have come and taken me away."
Woodrow Wilson wrote, "Liberty has never come from the government. Liverty has always come from the subjects of government. The history of liberty is the history of resistance. The history of liberty is a history of the limitation of governmental power, not the increase of it."

TOM | 10:18 p.m. June 23, 2008

EDSON IS GOING TO NEVER LET GO OF HIS FAMLY I'M VERY PROUD TO BE HIS SON

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